Convertible tru nk and wardrobe



(No Model.)

P.J.LYTLE.

QONVERTIBLE TRUNK AND WARDROBE. No. 412,770.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Oct. 15. 1889.

W" imuw nmm H (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. J. LYTLE.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK AND WARDROBE. No. 412,770. Patented 001;. 15, 1889.

2O longitudinal sectional view showing the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK. J. LYTLE, OF HUMBOLDT, NEBRASKA.

-CONVER' I'IBLE TRUNK AND -WARDROBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,770, dated October 15, 1889. Application filed May 2, 1889. Serial No. 309,373. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FRANK. J. LYTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Iumboldt, in the county of Richardson and State of Nebraska, have inventedanew and useful Convertible Trunk and WVardrobe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to convertible trunks and wardrobes; and it has for its object to construct a trunk which when not in use as such may be quickly and conveniently converted into a wardrobe, or vice versa.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a trunk embodying my improvements, showing the lid or cover of the same raised and detached from the hinge. Fig. 2 is a trunk closed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the trunk unfolded in the process of converting it into a wardrobe. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the wardrobe complete. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the part-s composing i116fl011h of the wardrobe. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line x a: in Fig. 4.

The same letters refer to the same partsin all the figures. a

A designates the bottom of the trunk, to the edges of which the sides B B are connected, by means of hinges C O, in such a manner as to fold outwardly from the same. The ends D D are likewise hinged to the bottom in such a manner as to fold down upon the latter, and to the ends of the sides B B are hinged end pieces E E, which may fold down upon the said sides and fit between the end pieces of the trunk when the sides are raised to a vertical position, as when the trunk is in use. Metallic angle-plates or braces are secured to the bottom and to the sides of the trunk, as shown in the drawings, and angular or L- shaped braces F F are likewise attached to the sides and to the ends D by means of screws G, which maybe readily removed when it shall be desired to convert the same into a wardrobe, aswill be hereinafter more fully described.

the ends D of the trunk.

It will beseen that when the trunk is in use the angle-irons F and screws G serve to connect the sides with the ends of the trunk, while the end pieces E E, hinged to the sides B B, are folded upon the latter in such amanner that their hingedends abut against the end pieces D, thereby preventing the said hinged pieces E E from being unfolded.

H designates a detachable bottom provided along its edges with flanges I 1, between which the bottom A of the trunk proper will fit, the said flanges I being of a width equal to the thickness of the sides B of the trunk, the lower edges of which will rest upon the said flanges.

J designates the top or cover of the trunk, which is constructed in such a manner as to fit neatly upon the upper edge of the trunkbody. The hinges by means of which the said cover is connected to the trunk are com-' posed of the sections K, attached permanently to the upper edges of the rear side of the trunk and having the pintles L, and the sections M, attached 'to the rear edge of the cover and having the hooks N, adapted to engage the pintles L in such a manner as to connect the cover detachably with the trunkbodv.

I11 order to convert the trunk into a ward robe, it is necessary, first, to remove the screws G, connecting the angle-irons F with The bottom H, which is secured detachably to the perma nent bottom A of the trunk by means of screws 0, is then removed, and the sides B B may then be folded down in a line with the bottom A, after which the end pieces E E may be raised to a vertical position in a line with the end pieces D of the trunk. The

trunk-body is now raised or set on end, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and placed with the outer edge of the front section B and the adjacent hinged sections E E within the flange I of the bottom, H. The front of the wardrobe is next placed in position. Said front comprises a top strip P, provided on its rear side with cleats Q Q, adapted to fit between the inner sides of the hinged end pieces E E of the top section, which are thereby spaced; a bottom strip R, which fits between the hinged end pieces of the bottom &

section, andwhich is likewise provided with cleats'Q Q to space the said end pieces; and vertical strips S S, adapted to be attached to the front edges of the hinged end pieces D D and E E of the middle and top sections, and provided at their lower ends with dowel-pins T T, adapted to enter corresponding recesses U in the upper edge of the bottom strip R. To the inner edges of the strips S S are hinged the doors V V, the upper edges of which are rabbeted to fit against the rabbeted lower edge of the top strip P. The strips P, R, and S may be attached to the front edges of the hinged pieces D E E by means of ordinary wood-screws, or in any convenient manner, and when they and the cover or top J have been placed in position the wardrobe is complete and ready for use.

It will be observed that the parts which form the front of the wardrobe do not constitute a portion of the trunk, but may, when the device is to be used as a trunk, be folded compactly together and stowed away. When the device is converted into a trunk, it will be seen that only the end pieces E E fold within the latter, and they occupy but little space, while they serve materially to strengthen the sides and ends of the tongue, which for this reason is enabled to resist rough usage.

My improved convertible trunk and wardrobe is exceedingly simple in construction, and is capable of being folded in such a manner as to occupy but little space while being transported from the factory to the dealers, thereby effecting a great saving in expense for freight, which consumes a large portion of the profits on trunks of ordinary construction.

' \Vhen the device is convertible into a wardrobe, it will be observed that a considerable space is left below the doors of the wardrobe, in which garments may be packed in the same manner as in an ordinary trunk, thereby greatly increasing the capacity and convenience of the wardrobe. It will be also noticed that the construction is such that the device may be converted from a trunk into a wardrobe, or vice versa, in a short time and with slight difliculty. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. I11 a convertible trunk, the combination, with the permanent bottom, of the hinged sides and end pieces, the end pieces hinged to the sides and folding inwardly upon the latter, and a false bottom having a flange extending around its sides and adapted to receive the permanent bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a convertible trunk, the combination of the bottom, the hinged side pieces, the end pieces hinged to the latter, the end pieces hinged to the bottom, the angleplates secured to the sides, and screws for connecting the said angle-plates detachably to the end pieces of the trunk-body, substantially as set forth.

3. In a convertible trunk, the combination, with the trunk-body having the hinged sides and ends, and the end pieces hinged to the sides and folding inwardly upon the latter, of the detachable top or cover having hingeplates provided with hooks adapted to engage the pintle of the hinge-plates attached to the upper edge of the rear side of the trunk,substantially as set forth.

4-. In a convertible trunk, the combination, with the trunk-body comprising the permanent bottom, the sides and ends hinged to the latter, and the end pieces hinged to the sides and adapted to foldinwardly upon the latter, of the flanged bottom secured detachably to the under side of the permanent bottom, and the detachable top or cover, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a convertible trunk and wardrobe, the combination of the permanent trunk-bottom, the sides and ends hinged to the latter, the ends hinged to the side pieces and adapted to fold inwardly upon the same, the angle-plates or braces secured to the sides and connected detachably with the ends of the trunk, the false bottom secured detachably to the under side of the permanent bottom, the top and bottom strips provided on their rear sides with cleats, and the side strips having dowel-pins adapted to engage the recesses in the bottom strip and provided with hinged doors, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK. J. LYTLE.

Witnesses:

J. W. RoUsEK, J. M. JOHNSON. 

